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Neil Barker @neildbarker.bsky.social · 6h

My original post on Substack from November 1, 2023: neilbarker.substack.com/p/bald-eagle...

Bald Eagle: "Soaring in Snowfall"

Keep going - do not quit

neilbarker.substack.com

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Neil Barker @neildbarker.bsky.social · 6h

Soaring in Snowfall
Cold, hungry, and lost and cannot do more than soar in circles.
Remember: focus and use what you have to survive and thrive.
Keep flying, soaring above it all seeing everything.

#poem #poetry #skypoets #blueskypoets #sijo #korean #nature #micropoetry #reading #eagle #baldeagle

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Neil Barker @neildbarker.bsky.social · 17h

Originally posted this sijo on my Substack on Halloween 2023: neilbarker.substack.com/p/moon-full-...

Moon: "Full Moon Witness"

Lunatic? Insomniac? Both?

neilbarker.substack.com

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Neil Barker @neildbarker.bsky.social · 17h

Full Moon Witness
A bright shining witness, watching all that sleeps and wakes at Night.
For those awake, you remind them that Night has its own light.
You’re not as bright as Day, but you will not sleep your life away.

#poem #poetry #skypoets #blueskypoets #sijo #korean #nature #moon #fullmoon

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Neil Barker @neildbarker.bsky.social · 22h

Originally posted to my substack October 30, 2023. Hard to believe it has been nearly 2 years since I saw this Red Fox. Time truly does fly by. neilbarker.substack.com/p/red-fox-en...

Red Fox: "End of the Overnight Shift"

Returning home after a night of chasing dinner

neilbarker.substack.com

Neil Barker @neildbarker.bsky.social · 22h

End of the Overnight Shift
Your senses tell you something large and unfamiliar is near.
Stop, do not move, look, listen, smell, wait to see what it does next.
You now recognize what it is that follows and do not move.

#poem #poetry #skypoets #sijo #korean #nature #micropoetry #reading #fox #redfox

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Neil Barker @neildbarker.bsky.social · 1d

I took this image back in the Winter of 2019 in Aylmer Quebec. Posted to my substack a few years ago. neilbarker.substack.com/p/air-aylmer...

Air Aylmer: "Am I cleared for takeoff?"

Now or never!

neilbarker.substack.com

Neil Barker @neildbarker.bsky.social · 1d

Am I Cleared for Takeoff?
Are the conditions good or bad for you to be on your way?
Maybe you should wait a few days before deciding to fly.
No thanks, now is the only time that matters: it’s time to fly.

#poem #poetry #blueskypoets #poetrycommunity #sijo #korean #aylmer #quebec #ottawariver

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Neil Barker @neildbarker.bsky.social · 1d

Nature’s Clean-up Crew
Another life has ended leaving behind skin, bones, blood, meat.
A shadow from above descends slowly, silently, hungry.
Closer, the shadow finds the source - time to remove all traces.

#poem #poetry #skypoets #blueskypoets #sijo #korean #nature #micropoetry #turkeyvulture

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Reposted by Neil Barker

elly from earth -- Elly Nobbs @pleides.bsky.social · 5d

harvest over
quiet empty fields
soil tucked in

#dailyhaikuprompt (field)
#haiku #autumn

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Reposted by Neil Barker

elly from earth -- Elly Nobbs @pleides.bsky.social · 2d

Finally fallen
Tree leaves the colour of suns
All at once it seems

#Dailyhaikuprompt (fallen, sun)
#haiku 🔅🔅🔅

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Reposted by Neil Barker

elly from earth -- Elly Nobbs @pleides.bsky.social · Feb 9

I just wrote a #triolet

(here's how - poets.org/glossary/tri... )

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Reposted by Neil Barker

The Hermit of Everything @hermiteveryday.bsky.social · 3d

An impromptu dance,
Leaves scurry and pirouette,
Wind pulling the strings.

#blueskyrelay impromptu
#haiku

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Reposted by Neil Barker

elly from earth -- Elly Nobbs @pleides.bsky.social · 1d

woodpecker claims
brown-needled spruce, storm-broken
three years ago

#haiku #hurricanefiona

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Neil Barker @neildbarker.bsky.social · 1d

Catching some Zzz’s
Much of the world awakens while I get some much-needed sleep.
Daylight and noises all around: sleep does not come easily.
But the warmth of a new day is well worth a little less sleep.

#poem #poetry #skypoets #blueskypoets #poetrycommunity #sijo #korean #nature #micropoetry #owl

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Neil Barker @neildbarker.bsky.social · 2d

It took me awhile to transfer my #sijo and posts from Substack (2023-2025) to my own website. I've been posting my sijo here. It's been nice to reflect on those memories of #Nature and #writing.

#poem #poetry #skypoets #blueskypoets #poetsofbluesky #poetrycommunity #korean #micropoetry

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Neil Barker @neildbarker.bsky.social · 2d

Observations from Above
A frantic, hectic, busy, frenetic world drove you upwards.
What to do now but stop, look around, and observe everything.
Up above it all you gain new sights, ideas: a new you.

#poem #poetry #skypoets #blueskypoets #poetsofbluesky #poetrycommunity #sijo #korean

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Neil Barker @neildbarker.bsky.social · 2d

Hazy & Smokey Morning
I have risen and am shining, but so few things seem brighter.
The air is thick with smoke and ash and a burning smell drifting.
There is a gloom today, but tomorrow all begins anew.
#poem #poetry #skypoets #blueskypoets #poetsofbluesky #sun #sijo #korean #nature #wildfires

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Neil Barker @neildbarker.bsky.social · 3d

Stop for a Week or Two
A brief stop of a week or two should suffice to rest and eat.
Once settled and rested and after having eaten my fill,
Continue my journey to warmer lands where a new life waits.

#poem #poetry #skypoets #blueskypoets #poetsofbluesky #sijo #korean #nature #reading #sparrow

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Neil Barker @neildbarker.bsky.social · 3d

Sleep While Others Awake
Others are awake, active, making noise while you try to sleep.
Your eyes closed, you try your best to block out the world around you.
Remembering there is no world out there but in your own mind.

#poem #poetry #blueskypoets #poetrycommunity #sijo #korean #nature #owls #owl

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Neil Barker @neildbarker.bsky.social · 4d

On the Road
Unsure and unaware and unable to decide where to go?
Be still, silent, open and observant without judging.
This way or that way, moving fast or slow, watch your thoughts always.

#poem #poetry #poetsofbluesky #poetrycommunity #writingcommunity #sijo #korean #nature #micropoetry #reading

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Reposted by Neil Barker

American Sijo @americansijo.bsky.social · 17d

Those who stare, only at their shadows; often bemoan, the lack of sun.

Easier, to expound self-darkness; than to turn and face, the light outside.

Their warped wit, belies an aching fear; to love and lose, the good and bright.

#sijo

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Neil Barker @neildbarker.bsky.social · 5d

I like the contrast in each of the lines in this sijo.

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Reposted by Neil Barker

Ellie Marie Johnson 🍁 @elliemariejohnson.bsky.social · 13d

A sijo is a Korean poem originating in the 14th century, with 3-6 lines. (44-46 syllables total.)

Yun Seon-do endured banishment for criticizing the ruling Joseon court. Some poetry is timeless.

#poetry #poem #sijo #korean #history #river #sunday #weekend #nature #wisdom #micropoetry #reading

A photo I took of the Wenatchee River, near the shore with soft sand and bright green shrubbery and trees. In the center is a partially transparent black overlay with paper white serif text in the middle. The text reads:

Morning mist rises / from the river where I cast / my line for wisdom
Politicians argue / in distant halls of power / while fish swim freely
Who needs their golden / promises when water / teaches truth daily
Yun Seon-do

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Neil Barker @neildbarker.bsky.social · 5d

A Seed Among the Stones
Searching among the stones on the ground and remembering.
Yesterday or the day before you saw that seed fall from above.
Here? There? Where? Try to remember…ah yes next to that square stone!

#poem #poetry #blueskypoets #poetsofbluesky #poetrycommunity #writingcommunity #sijo

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